On Thursday March 9th, 2017 around 6:45 AM, Officers responded to a report of gunshots in the area of Fifth Street in Bemis. Upon arrival, Officers spoke to witnesses who told them that they had heard gunshots and then had seen a suspect run into a wooded area. The witnesses said that they then heard an additional shot.

Officers checked the area and found a deceased male with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigation revealed that this person had ran from 421 South Massachusetts Street. Officers did a welfare check at the house on Massachusetts Street. Inside the house, officers found a deceased female with multiple gunshot wounds.

After a preliminary investigation, investigators believe that the two deaths were related. The male, identified as Christopher Armstrong, age 23 of Milan, TN and the female, Velma Paulette Garrett, age 67 of Jackson, TN were scheduled to appear in Gibson County Circuit Court in the 28th Judicial District on the morning of March 9th. In this case, Armstrong was charged with Attempted Robbery and Aggravated Assault which had occurred in Milan, TN in 2014. Garrett was subpoenaed as the victim in this case. Armstrong was out on bond awaiting this trial.

The investigation is still open. Both Armstrong and Garrett have been sent for an autopsy. Anyone with information about this case should call the Jackson Police Department Major Crimes Unit at 731-425-8400. Tips can be submitted anonymously by calling Crimestoppers at 731-425-8477.